A new team from the Peninsula has entered the rankings after an impressive victory over a league rival.
San Mateo’s ground-and-pound approach got the victory over Half Moon Bay and took the Cougar’s place in the Top 25.
Amador Valley actually moves up one spot after giving No. 4 San Ramon Valley everything it could handle in a one-point loss, and No. 7 Valley Christian remains stationary after a close loss to No. 5 St. Ignatius.
Bishop O’Dowd also jumps one place after making a statement in league play against Moreau Catholic.
If you have not already, please subscribe here for digital access all season. Your contributions keep us going.
On to the rankings …
How Bay Area News Group Top 25 fared
(Mercury News & East Bay Times)
No. 1 DE LA SALLE (8-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Last week: Beat Monte Vista 42-7
Up next: Friday at California, 7:15 p.m.
No. 2 PITTSBURG (7-1)
Previous ranking: 2
Last week: Beat Liberty 47-15
Up next: Friday at Deer Valley, 7 p.m.
No. 3 ST. FRANCIS (7-1)
Previous ranking: 3
Last week: Beat Sacred Heart Cathedral 49-24
Up next: Friday at Valley Christian, 7 p.m.
No. 4 SAN RAMON VALLEY (8-1)
Previous ranking: 4
Last week: Beat Amador Valley 29-28
Up next: Oct. 8 at Monte Vista, 7:15 p.m.
No. 5 ST. IGNATIUS (6-2)
Previous ranking: 5
Last week: Beat Valley Christian 20-13
Up next: Friday vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral at Kezar Stadium, 5 p.m.
No. 6 LOS GATOS (7-1)
Previous ranking: 6
Last week: Beat Menlo School 38-0
Up next: Friday vs. Wilcox, 7 p.m.
No. 7 VALLEY CHRISTIAN (5-3)
Previous ranking: 7
Last week: Lost to St. Ignatius 20-13
Up next: Friday vs. St. Francis, 7 p.m.
No. 8 SERRA (4-4)
Previous ranking: 8
Last week: Beat Bellarmine 47-6
Up next: Saturday at Archbishop Riordan, 1:30 p.m.
No. 9 CALIFORNIA (7-1)
Previous ranking: 9
Last week: Did not play
Up next: Friday vs. De La Salle, 7:15 p.m.
No. 10 WILCOX (6-2)
Previous ranking: 11
Last week: Beat Sacred Heart Prep 35-7
Up next: Friday at Los Gatos, 7 p.m.
No. 11 ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN (4-4)
Previous ranking: 10
Last week: Beat Archbishop Mitty 42-13
Up next: Saturday vs. Serra, 1:30 p.m.
No. 12 ACALANES (6-2)
Previous ranking: 12
Last week: Did not play
Up next: Friday at Campolindo, 7 p.m.
No. 13 CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER (5-3)
Previous ranking: 13
Last week: Beat Campolindo 20-12
Up next: Friday at Miramonte, 7 p.m.
No. 14 BISHOP O’DOWD (6-2)
Previous ranking: 15
Last week: Beat Moreau Catholic 35-9
Up next: Friday vs. James Logan, 7 p.m.
No. 15 LIBERTY (5-3)
Previous ranking: 14
Last week: Lost to Pittsburg 45-17
Up next: Friday vs. Freedom, 7 p.m.
No. 16 MENLO-ATHERTON (6-2)
Previous ranking: 16
Last week: Beat Palo Alto 27-13
Up next: Saturday at Sacred Heart Prep, 2 p.m.
No. 17 MCCLYMONDS (4-4)
Previous ranking: 17
Last week: Beat Skyline 49-0
Up next: Friday vs. Oakland, 7 p.m.
No. 18 CHRISTOPHER (7-1)
Previous ranking: 19
Last week: Did not play
Up next: Thursday vs. Leigh, 7:15 p.m.
No. 19 SALESIAN (7-1)
Previous ranking: 21
Last week: Beat De Anza 62-14
Up next: Saturday vs. St. Mary’s-Berkeley, 1:30 p.m.
No. 20 MONTE VISTA (5-3)
Previous ranking: 20
Last week: Lost to De La Salle 42-7
Up next: Friday vs. Amador Valley, 7:15 p.m.
No. 21 AMADOR VALLEY (4-4)
Previous ranking: 22
Last week: Lost to San Ramon Valley 29-28
Up next: Friday at Monte Vista, 7:15 p.m.
No. 22 SANTA TERESA (7-1)
Previous ranking: 23
Last week: Beat Leigh 44-34
Up next: Friday at Lincoln-San Jose, 7:15 p.m.
No. 23 MENLO SCHOOL (5-3)
Previous ranking: 18
Last week: Lost to Los Gatos 38-0
Up next: Saturday vs. Palo Alto, 3 p.m.
No. 24 WILLOW GLEN (8-0)
Previous ranking: 24
Last week: Beat Prospect 56-0
Up next: Friday vs. Westmont, 7 p.m.
No. 25 SAN MATEO (7-1)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Last week: Beat Half Moon Bay 30-20
Up next: Friday vs. Sequoia, 7 p.m.
Editor’s note: Teams eligible for the Bay Area News Group rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The news organization’s high school staff chooses the teams.